windows explorer has stopped working

Hi Judith,
right lets get goin on the re-install
read this first, looks complicated but its not
Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

As for your concerns regarding partitioning
IF you only want 1 (ie C), then when you reach this point, see screenshot, select next
if you want more, (c/d) then select new. you can split it at a later date.

As for the download,
W7 sp1 oem x64 version english
SKIP the enter product code, it may auto authenticate, using the in built code belarc found.
6B88K-KCCWY-4F8HK-M4P73-W8DQG

The sticker code (COA) on your lappy is unique, DO NOT POST IT, and is a backup.

Now you like your USB's so were going to use that,
We need to make it bootable

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/.../jj200124.aspx
or use
Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

THE FOLLOWING LINK IS ONLY VALID FOR 24 HRS (12.30 31/1/17)


https://software-download.microsoft....82c342da34fa67

CHANGE BOOT ORDER TO LOAD USB FIRST

Hi everyone and thank you all for reacting!

@bigmck
I've installed all of my stuff on another computer before but I've never installed an OS.
@ICIT2LOL
This recovery in in a hidden part of the d drive. I guess it will wipe the c drive and reinstall windows to factory settings on c:. I will not use it.

I will worry about imaging later... There are a few ways to protect data on my Toshiba. With the built-in Toshiba recovery media creator I can make disks (as I did in 2015). It creates a recovery image. Also I'll make restore points.

I do not have a 2nd pc.
@Roland
I backed up everything (I hope...). I'm just hoping my sticks won't let me down. That would be a disaster.

There still remains the question of which version to download from Heidoc. If I don't download the right one I'll be in deep sh... as my product key won't work (as I understand it...) and I will not be able to go online to download another. Windows 7, English (US) gives me:
1) Windows 7 Home Premium SP1
2) Windows 7 Home Premium N SP1
3) Windows 7 Home Premium K SP1
4) Windows 7 Home Premium KN SP1
5) Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 COEM
6) Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 COEM GGK
7) Windows 7 Home Premium N SP1 COEM
8) Windows 7 Home Premium K SP1 COEM
9) Windows 7 Home Premium KN SP1 COEM

Now I found that N means a European version without Windows Media Player (I have that 'damned' program which did such weird things, so that isn't it). K means no Windows Messenger (I think I do have that, never use it), KN means Korean. So none of these apply.
COE apparently is for people who build their pc. My product ID (Belarc and my computer) state 00359-OEM-xxxxxx.
Not sure what GGK is.

So should I download 1) or 5)?

Thanks for letting me know!

Judith

HE HE
cross posting the links there:):):)

Roy

yeah, I'm just going through yours

Roy,

I emptied a flash drive (8GB) and I downloaded Rufus.

Which partition scheme and target system type should I use?

- MBR partition schem for BIOS or UEFI
- MBR partition scheme for UEFI
- GPT partition scheme for UEFI

file sytems:
- FAT32 (default)
- NTFS
- UDF
- exFAT

It's all Chinese to me!

Judith

Hi Judith

mbr - bios

ntfs

Roy

Clicking on the start button gives me the following error message:

< Please click on the disc button to select a bootable image, or uncheck the "Create a bootable disk using" checkbox. >

Well we want to create a bootable disk so I shouldn't uncheck. Clicking on the disk opens windows explorer.

So how should I proceed?

Well since Rufus wasn't as easy as it pretends to be, I followed the process on the Technet link you gave me, Roy. So my USB now is bootable.

I'm in the process of downloading the iso. It saves to my pc, I hope that is what is meant. I would need to have it on the USB, so I would need to copy it to the USB later.